Here is an excellent opportunity for the family to take a look at some domestic animals in Iceland. If you travel a bit outside the Ring Road in South Iceland, in the neighbourhood of Skálholt (church, cultural center and former episcopacy), you will find Slakki zoo and entertainment park for the whole family. This is a distance of only 100 km from Reykjavik and makes for a delightful outing, especially if there are children travelling with you.
Slakki has been around for 14 years now and offers a small zoo consisting of animals such as rabbits, puppies, kittens, foxes, goats, gooses, ducks, chickens, piglets to name a few. It also offers a big area indoors (1000 m2) which means that although the weather might be rough you can enjoy the sun inside :-). There are good facilities for golfing, minigolf, several games etc.
And of course you can buy some refreshments.
From June 1st till September 1st the park will be open from 11-18 hours.
A suggestion for some interesting activities in Iceland:
- Northern Lights Tours are offered from September through March if the weather conditions are right.
- A helicopter ride is a very exciting way to experience our country’s interesting landscape.
- And if you like caving, there are caving expeditions available in the vicinity of Reykjavík. One word of warning though - you should always ask about the risk of entering certain ice caves during the summertime.
(Photo from the Reykjanes peninsula)
Icelanders have been fishing salmon since the first settlers came in the 9th century. Today there are more than 100 self sustaining salmon rivers in Iceland. Most market their fishing as six to seven days packages.
There are also excellent trout fishing possibilities, a fact not very well known. Most of Iceland’s many lakes offer good trout fishing, both brown trout and char. Also many of the smaller and colder rivers. Fishing licences can be obtained on short notice and at low cost too.
More information about trout and salmon fishing at www.angling.is
(Photo: The salmon river Ellidaa in Reykjavik)
Iceland hiking offers you incredibly many opportunities for. There are hiking and trekking trails that fit everyone. Besides, there is absolutely no danger from animals and you can usually drink water directly from rivers and creeks everywhere.
Often there are natural hot pots to be found during the hike where it is possible to take a bath... not without checking the temperature first though!
Consult the touring associations Utivist and The Icelandic Touring Association.
Did you know that diving in Iceland is quite an adventure? It is even possible to scuba dive between the continents of Europe and North America? The continents are slowly splitting apart and the crack has filled with water.
Silfra
I’m talking about the rift valley of Þingvellir National Park and Lake Þingvallavatn. The mid-Atlantic ridge runs right through the valley and on the southern shore of the lake you’ll find Silfra – a narrow cleft that releases meltwater flowing downhill from the beautiful surrounding mountains.
Silfra is also among the world’s top freshwater dives. The water is icy cold and divers wear thick undergarments and waterproof suits. I have read that some divers have reached the depths of 160 feet or more in Silfra’s caverns and labyrinths!
Jokulsarlon
For those perferring another cold place to scuba dive in Iceland, Jökulsarlón glacial lagoon is the place! You will find it in south Iceland at the feet of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier.
Keflavik
One of the places for coastal diving is the town of Keflavík The sea has a lush landscape, alive with cold-water critters and other creatures that may encourage further study when you get back home.
Average water temperature is 30°- 36° F depending on site and season.
Try this unforgettable and unique opportunity. If you love excitement and adventure, this is definitely something for you and you have the chance to choose from different grades of difficulty.
You'll easily find tours in different parts of the country. There are e.g. tours on Hvítá, Markarfljót, Vestari Jökulsá and Eystri Jökulsá.
Continue reading "River Rafting in Iceland is a Breathtaking Experience" »
Snowmobiling in Iceland is great fun! It allows you to get closer to Iceland's majestic nature in a way you'll probably not have experienced before.
Snowmobiling on Langjökull glacier, Mýrdalsjökull glacier and Vatnajökull glacier is very popular not to mention the highlands and the numerous heaths in Iceland.
The length of the tours can vary, snowmobiling is often combined with other interesting things such as sight seeing tours, river rafting etc.
Prices for a tour usually include all equipment for the activity. You should however dress very warmly...
Jeep tours in Iceland are a sure way to visit the beautiful and majestic interior of Iceland. Many visitors come to my country with only one major wish - to visit the highlands!
You can also take a tour on one of the magnificent glaciers - there are a lot of options to choose from.
You could take a special volcano safari tour or a highland safari to Landmannalaugar, one of the pearls of the interior. Þórsmörk, resting between three glaciers in the south of Iceland is also a very tempting option or even the mystique of the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
Other popular jeep tour destinations include e.g. Grímsvötn, Kverkfjöll, Snæfell, Öræfajökull, Breiðamerkurjökull and Humarkló.
The length of the tours varies from 3-4 hours to one day or more.
Specially equipped 4WD jeeps or trucks are used and guides are highly experienced professionals.
